Guest Post: Luigi

Since Clover is doing too well to be interesting on a regular basis (for which I am thankful), I've invited a few people to guest post about their orthopedic problems with their dogs.

First up: Luigi!

This is a Jack Russell who has a mind-boggling 121 (yes, that's One Hundred Twenty One) titles in multiple disciplines, including several championships with many different organizations. That looks like this:

ADCH/APD/LAA-bronze, TACH-4, C-ATE/C-ATCh-5, ATCH, ARCH Luigi, SCh, AJD-silver, ASD-silver, AKD-silver, ARD, AGD-bronze, ATD-bronze, C-10, ExST/ChST, ExSN/ChSN, ExWC/ChWC, ExCL/ChCL, ExJP/ChJP, ExJU/ChJU, ExFH/ChFH, TMAG-9, TAM-8, RL1X2, RL2X, CW-AR, CW-Z1, CGC 2004 TDAA 12 inch national champion

Margaret thought Luigi's career was over when he blew his ACL (same injury as Clover), but she was delightfully wrong. Here's their story.

Luigi is a 9.5 year old Jack Russell Terrier of the puddin' variety. (That is JRT speak for short legs. In Luigi's case he has "Queen Anne" legs - inwardly turning/bent front legs.) He came into my life one day while driving down a country road. I literally bought him out of someone's barn. Now that he has gotten over his fear of the judge, we are also working on his CD. Basically we will try anything!

When he hurt his leg, Luigi was doing one of his favorite things - pushing a basketball around my back yard. After a while, he laid down next to the ball. I thought he was just tired and kept playing with the other dogs. After a few minutes he came limping towards me, holding up his back left leg.

I had seen ACL injuries before (a friend's whippet had recently had the same injury) and was almost certain immediately what had happened. I took him in and iced it down and called the vet in the morning. My first thought was one of irony. Just that weekend I had been joking with a friend that it was time for Luigi to retire from USDAA where he has to jump higher than in other venues. "After all," I told her, "I don't want him to tear an ACL on the agility course."

If I was correct in my diagnosis, I knew that there was no choice but surgery. To do nothing would leave him severely lame in that rear leg. My only question was to do a traditional repair (where they stablize the knee and allow the surrounding tissue to form a new structure) or a TPLO (where they radically alter the bone structure of the knee to produce a completely different joint structurally). And that is truly a layman's description of the two procedures. I had researched the options a few years earlier when my border collie was injured and have lots of friends who have gone both routes.

I talked with my vet and decided to go with a traditional surgery. One of my deciding factors was simply time. My vet had a surgery concellation that day and could do the surgery immediately. Having seen how quickly they can lose muscle tone and mass from non-use, I decided to take him up on the offer. Also, given Luigi's size (13 pounds 8 ounces) and the fact that he was in fantastic shape physically, he had a very good chance of recovering from a traditional surgery with full use of his knee. Plus, I had the option of a TPLO in the future if I wasn't satisfied with the results. I was headed to a trial that weekend and convinced my vet to let me take Luigi home almost immediately after the surgery.

The only time I second guessed myself was the next day when I had to remove the bandages from his leg. He was in so much pain. But the next day he was already crying in the x-pen becuase his brother and sister were getting to play agility and he wasn't. I knew then that the next 12 weeks were going to be miserable!

I was initially told that it would take 12 weeks to regain "normal" activity. Some how I doubted that Luigi's lifestyle constituted "normal". I knew that Luigi was not going to be happy retired and that I was going to have to help him regain use of the knee in order for him to be happy (and not drive me crazy). I immediately set about doing range of motion exercises and icing his knee several times a day. Within a week of surgery though, he wanted to jump, a cardinal sin of knee rehabilitation. After fighting with him for a short bit, I truthfully gave up and picked other battles to fight.

Since I could not get him to stop jumping, I set about helping him to strengthen his knee. We took walks up and down the incline of my driveway. (If you doubt how much this works your legs, try it. ) I also bought a children's swimming pool and set about teaching him to swim. I never realized that a dog could give such dirty looks!

I also started playing lots of tricks on him to get him to use his "bad" leg. We would put a lose hair tie on the good leg to get him to shift his weight. I would tap his front feet to get him to move backwards. I walked him through a ladder so that he had to think about placing each foot separately. Everything was designed to get him to use his leg since it was easier and faster to hop along on three feet. In the mean time I did tons of obedience with him. This not only used his leg, but also kept his mind engaged.

About ten weeks after his surgery I took him with me to agility class. My plan was simply to run him through a few tunnels. As soon as I took off his leash, he was off and over the aframe and jumping 16 inch jumps (which scared me to death since he only jumped 12 when he was at the height of his competition time and lately only jumps 4 inch "speed bumps"). He was sore that night, but the look of satisfaction on his face was worth it.

Thirteen weeks after his surgery I got the okay from the vet to start running him again in agility. The vet was amazed by his recovery. That weekend he ran one run each day which was enough to finish his CATCh-5 title in CPE. (VIDEO!!)

I've amassed a lot of titles and a lot of Q's with my dogs. Luigi though has taught me that it really is just a game and you do have to appreciate every run since you really never know when you will be done. I have had three "retirement" scares with Luigi. He broke a front leg in January 2006 (chasing that same basketball). In 2007 he had surgery for a sudden onset cataract. Then the recent ACL tear. Each time, I was convinced he would never play again. And each time he has proven that the spirit will overcome.

I think the biggest thing to remember is that an injury is not a career ender, but that you as the owner have to be dedicated to the rehab process to help your dog recover. It is a lot of time and effort (and expense) but these guys give us all that we ask. Don't they deserve the same in return?

Tried to Make me go to Rehab

I am happy to present the LONG AWAITED swimming photos that, despite the reasonable amount of swimming that has been done, my camera(s) tried to make impossible. Actually today I had some pictures taken with only part of the lens cover open (this is what prevented there from being any dog shows photos last weekend), and I snuck some in before the (brand new) battery decided to be low again.

But alas! We took a morning jaunt to the city park with its if not dog-friendly, then certainly dog-ambiguous beach. I live in the Ocean State, and there's really no shortage of tiny beaches along coves and bays and oceans.
Just beyond the wooden patio is a beautiful sandy beach, not rocky like many beaches in New England. It's a cove off a bay, so it's shallow, clear, and generally quite warm, which is perfect for this.

I wade in the water just past my knees, and Clover walks then swims along after me. He had enough leash to swim over to where he can stand and walk in shoulder-deep water - another excellent exercise for post-op recovery. Some rehab places actually have a treadmill they can flood up to this depth - the walking has higher resistance but the water still provides a buoyancy to take weight off the joint. But Clover seems to prefer walking on the sand or swimming.

He has a life jacket - back from when I used to have friends with boats - which is a great because he doesn't feel like he has to work harder to stay afloat. I have to put in a small plug for the Paws Aboard brand here, because this is a pretty awesome PFD. Very buoyant, nice handle, the bottom is mesh that drains well, and both the front/chest and bottom closures are heavy-duty Velcro plus strong plastic buckle closures (like most collars have). I can pick him up and carry him by the handle, it keeps his head above water, and it's as cheap-feeling as some of the other brands I looked at. He is a little too narrow in the front and I have to sort of cross the front flaps and then buckle, but that's a problem Clover has for every coat he's ever had, so I can't hold it against the company. He's also a lot more narrow than most Havs!

The life jacket is important because you don't want them to flail as they swim - especially early on, this can actually cause damage - but a nice, smooth doggy paddle. You want them to be moving those legs, working muscles and flexing joints, upping circulation, all those good things, but in a controlled, non-panicked manner. Even if your dog was a strong swimmer, remember they've lost fitness since they've injured themselves, and need to carefully rebuild it. Especially with a dog who is not used to swimming, start off in the water holding the dog, then once they're comfortable use the handle to guide them, and once they're comfortable you can swim or wade and they can follow along.

I'm at the beach probably 20-40 minutes in a stint, but he only swims in short bursts. I will walk about twenty feet along the shore, then walk in and let him stand on the shore for a bit. Swim back and go a littler further, then sit on the wooden deck for awhile and let him warm up in the sun for a bit. Then I'll repeat another time or two, depending on the day. He is never exhausted or panting, and that's how I want him to be - this is strength training and rehab, not cardio.

I pick him up out of the water (usually by his PFD handle!) carry him over the stand to my towel and into the car, so I don't have to rinse sand off of him. I'm lucky to have this beach about 10-15 minutes up the street from me, so this whole ordeal is maybe an hour, tops. If it's nice enough to swim, it's nice enough to let him towel/air dry; he can get a bath whenever I have time.

By far the best part of this excursion - he's happy, tired, and not limping when we're done.

Week 7, Graduation, the wrong Dr Weitzman

Clover has graduated to to being a quasi-real dog. This is, of course, exciting news. Please see exhibit one, Clover sitting happily outside the front door of a wonderful vet and surgeon he hopes to never need to see again.

I was slightly miffed that I got booked with the wrong Dr Weitzman at Acorn Animal Hospital last week - not the surgeon, but who I assume to be his pleasant, androgynous child. So I wrangled out of work early and drove for hours to just have a regular vet look at and approve Clover's knee. I didn't mind having another vet look at Clover's knee this time, as there was really nothing of note, I had no questions, and it's going strong - but I certainly would have loved to have driven 15 minutes to see Lindsey instead. I believe this was an honest mistake by the receptionist, and though annoyed, I certainly continue to hold the vet clinic in high esteem. I hope to never see them again only because I hope to never need a good canine surgeon again. Oiy.

To celebrate his new found freedom, Clover joined me on a trip to the Wachusett Kennel Club shows this weekend, where I was showing The Spazzy Dog for my friend Chelsea. Merci had no idea who I was for the first several hours (despite living with me for several months earlier this year), but we still managed two Best of Breeds in spite of her, um, antics/neurosis.

I was surprised and delighted at how well Clover's knee held up. I grant you, I was still carrying him up and down stairs, and he slept in his pen in the hotel room, and he spent a good portion of his day sleeping in his crate or hanging out on my lap. But, I was letting him walk around among the vendors (and he did his signature face dive into the first bin of toys he came across), around the rings, a bit outside - and even after two days on concrete, there was no limping. I can't even say the same for myself. He did slow down a bit, but dog shows are always extremely tiring anyway, for all parties involved. I am very pleased.

Meanwhile, I am trying to refill his Temeril allergy medications through an online pharmacy (Drs Fosters & Smith) as they charge nearly half as much per pill as my vet does. But oh, the hoops we are jumping through... more on that one later on. For now, Clover is taking strolls around the apartment complex, and if would get about 65 and stop raining, there will be swimming, too. And maybe, if my camera will cooperate - the much promised pictures.

Week 6 & the Great Cucumber Heist

Sorry for the extended hiatus. I had to move into Clover's new apartment (that is, my new apartment which is smaller and cheaper so as to accommodate Clover's need for ligament replacements), and as soon as I was, my computer was attacked by some pretty ugly virus that it took my techy computer brother to save. Hence: hiatus.

Clover will be visiting Dr Weitzman for his six-week check up this week - for the life of me, I'm not sure if it's tomorrow or Thursday, which is probably something I ought to investigate before tomorrow.

I have to say, he's doing really well still. He probably leveled off in the past week or so and stopped gaining massive ground, which had to happen sooner or later. On a leash, he is trotting out without any perceptible limp about 95% of the time. He'll stand up on his hind legs if I have food, or he wants attention; if he's in his pen, he's started hopping up and down in anticipation of getting out - something I am obviously not encouraging but the fact he's jumping is pretty ridiculous. And yes, he's still sneak diving onto the sofa, despite my ongoing efforts to avoid it. He does still float his leg a bit when standing - that is, has most of his weight on three legs but some on the fourth, and as his balance shifts the forth one comes up and down a little bit. Pretty normal, though he's been doing it a bit more while I try to keep the lid on him.

Another advantage is that this time it's easier to tell if the knee is swollen. The suture is string around the outside of the knee, and there are two posts to hold the suture. Because of this, his knee is a little bit wider than it is naturally. Last time, it was hard to tell what was swollen and what was just the now wider joint. This time, easy to tell. And I know how to check stability and, the thing is pretty darn stable. I hope the vet agrees.

Anyway, I will leave you with the story of the cucumber heist. I gardening friend of mine at work gifted me a home grown, moderately sized cucumber, which I put in my purse so I wouldn't forget. Got home, went to the gym, checked my email, and hopped in the shower. Got out of the bathroom and thought it smells like cucumbers out here. And then I see my over turned purse on the coffee table... and then I see my little dog, smug, lying on his bed, half-eaten cucumber poised between his paws like a bone. Sadly, the camera was not available, but imagine it and laugh. I certainly did. And yes, let him eat the rest of it.

Small Victories

So despite Clover's incessant bouncing, swimming, and sofa-surfing, there was one thing that eluded him:

The leg lift.

My masculine (10 pound, fuzzy) dog is an avid leg lifter. He's house broken beyond belief but outside, no vertical surface goes untouched.

I think the worst part of these whole will-be-year-long knee(s) ordeal, for Clover, is that he was forced to pee with four legs on the ground. Both injured and post-op, Clover would attempt to leg lift, only to have to quickly put down the other leg to steady himself. He would shoot an embarrassed look over his shoulder at me, then stare at the grass.

Every morning, or when I come home from work, it's been a ridiculous little game, where I am cheering for every second he manages to support his weight on his single, bald, hind leg. He's been getting closer and closer every day, but needed to put down the leg in the last few moments.

But today, my friends, my dog is again a man (albeit neutered): he made it through the entire, long, post-work pee while balanced on the knee that was reassembled only a few weeks ago.

Sometimes, it's the little things.

Day 24

So I give a shout out to my parents, who donated their not-perfect-but-better-than-mine spare camera for the continued good.

Excited, I took Clover swimming again this morning, new camera in hand, took one picture, and... the battery died. So you're limited to one teaser picture, and maybe some actual action shots next time.

This weekend's "oh crap" surprise is that Clover has decided to start jumping on the sofa again. After a few attempts at jumping up after he hurt his knee again - and he couldn't make it up - he started just looking at me and waiting again. But yesterday, he suddenly looked at me, at the sofa, and hopped up - and MADE IT instead of falling backward on his ass and looking embarrassed. Well, that was that, and now he is literally sneaking around trying to jump on the sofa. Last time, he could barely make it up at the six week mark when the surgeon tentatively OKed him to hop. Now - three weeks?

Again - it's great he has the strength to do this - but the possibility of stretching out the suture and ruining the surgery is still there. I mean, his knee is still really, really stable (once you know how, it's pretty easy to do a tibial thrust test), and he's still walking on it almost normally. My instincts are telling me that if he's off painkillers and is walking on it so normally, that the odds of him ruining it are much lower than last time, when he was still considerably limping and it was still not healed up and entirely stable. But, who wants to take that risk? We'll make it to the six week check up (sometime between August 15 - 20th) and go from there.

Consequently, Clover is now in the pen more than he was a week ago. And HATES IT. I'm also moving, so I am packing and there are boxes everywhere. So I spent all day putting stuff in boxes (hating it) with the dog whining in the background. Oh my goodness, there are no words for how annoying my day was.

It did result in this genuinely adorable photo of Clover, though. I lost track of him and panicked, but he had made his home in a box that had been flat but fell over between my dining room table and sofa. He does like sleeping under things; he will bury under the throw pillows on my sofa, and enjoys sleeping under beds. This only made sense, I suppose.

Day 23

I was slammed at work this week, so look for a real post tomorrow after I catch up on my sleep.

Until then, enjoy Clover at 5 months, and then at 13 years 4 months.